Meelick/Parteen Nov 16

Death Of Popular Curate: The death occurred recently after an illness of Father Fred McDonnell who has been a Curate in the Parish for ten years and lived in the Parochial House in Meelick.

Death Of Popular Curate: The death occurred recently after an illness of Father Fred McDonnell who has been a Curate in the Parish for ten years and lived in the Parochial House in Meelick.

Father Fred was a late vocation to the Priesthood and was Ordained at the age of sixty nine following the death of his wife four years earlier. Father Fred found his calling while visiting Medjugorje. Ann died in 1998 and he went to the Bosnian Shrine nine weeks after her death. He said at the time three weeks before Ann died she told my daughter,” Make sure Dad goes- it might do him good” and another Priest Father Terry O’Connell approached him about joining the Clergy and he knew immediately that the Priesthood was for him.

Before his ordination by Bishop Donal Murray he was a bus inspector for nearly forty years. When he was ordained he had a grown up family Shane, Helena, Lorna and Ada. “Father Fred” as he was known to everybody was extremely popular in the Parish and his gentle and caring nature endeared him to everybody and he will be sadly missed.

McCarthy Cup: There was a huge crowd in Meelick last week when the McCarthy Cup arrived at the GAA Clubhouse, Knockalisheen, which was packed to capacity for the event. Players Colm Galvin, Conor Ryan and Official Mike Deegan were introduced to the gathering by Meelick PRO Padraig O’Brian where they received a rousing reception. They posed for photographs, signed autographs and expressed the hope that they would visit Meelick often in the years ahead. They will also be visiting the School in the near future. The Club expressed their appreciation and gratitude that the players and officials found time and effort to fit in Meelick in their very busy schedule and it’s very much appreciated.

The Gathering: The organisers of the Gathering of the friends of Father Browne at Ray Mc Mahon’s Blackwater of December 6th are expecting Sports people from a wide area to attend the event. One of the organisers said” we have been contacted by a large number of people who want to be associated with the event because of the high regard in which Father Browne was held and because the proceeds are all being donoted to Milford Hospice.”

Sympathy : Sympathy is extended to the Cleary and O’Callaghan Families on the recent death in Celbridge, Co. Kildare of Eleanor Cleary formerly Eleanor O’Callaghan of Ballykeelaun, Parteen. The late Eleanor was in her mid forties and moved to Kildare about seventeen years ago when her husband Eoin took up an appointment in Dublin. Eleanor was very popular locally and had been very active in the Parteen Youth Club.She attended Parteen National School, Laurel Hill and UL. She worked at ISI at UL and she married her husband Eoin Cleary of Corbally in 1994. She is daughter of Former Garda Denis O’Callaghan and his late Wife Kay.

A huge crowd from Parteen and Corbally travelled to Cellbridge for the Funeral.

She is survived by her Husband Eoin, Daughter Aoibheann, Son Mark, Sister Evelyn, Brother Patrick, Father Denis, Father in Law and Mother in Law, relatives and a large circle of friends.

Meelick Community Hall: There will be computer classes available free of charge in Meelick Community Hall, beginning this week. Local Councillor Cathal Crowe said, “Two class groupings will be formed with lessons taking place on four consecutive Thursday’s: November 14, 21, 28 & December 5. Class grouping 1 will be tutored from 10-12 and Class grouping 2 will be tutored from 12.15-14.15. You must be over 18 years of age to avail of these classes”. Anybody interested is asked to contact Cathal Crowe.

Special Mass: A special mass will be celebrated at Parteen Church this Sunday Morning at 10.30 a.m. to coincide with a Mass in Quebec, Canada for Patrick Francis Mc Namara. Immediately after mass there will be a guided tour of Kilquane Cemetery and a talk by well known historian Tony Browne of the Thomond Historical Society.

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